Real Crime Programme - James Bulger

[Jonnyboy]

Watched this on STV tonight and found myself getting very upset at the notion of the two killers going free after serving only eight years in the care of the local authority. :grr:

Essentially these two thugs although only ten years old at the time, set out that day to take a child's life. A target had been identified but the parents were keeping the kid close by and so the attempt to lure the kid away was aborted. It was divulged that Thompson and Venables intended to push the kid in front of a bus or taxi just to see what reaction that would prompt to a 'tragic accident.'

James Bulger's Mum was in a butchers shop buying some goods when 2 year old James wandered out into the main floor of the shopping centre. He was out of her sight for a very short period of time but before she could react to his absence, Thompson and Venables had led him away. They walked him for three miles and ultimately killed him on a rail track and then tried to make it look like he had been hit by a train.

They knew exactly what they were doing, ten years old or not. James Bulger is dead. Eight years in care and those two are now getting on with living their lives. How can that be right?

[Danderhall Hibs]

Watched this on STV tonight and found myself getting very upset at the notion of the two killers going free after serving only eight years in the care of the local authority. :grr:

Essentially these two thugs although only ten years old at the time, set out that day to take a child's life. A target had been identified but the parents were keeping the kid close by and so the attempt to lure the kid away was aborted. It was divulged that Thompson and Venables intended to push the kid in front of a bus or taxi just to see what reaction that would prompt to a 'tragic accident.'

James Bulger's Mum was in a butchers shop buying some goods when 2 year old James wandered out into the main floor of the shopping centre. He was out of her sight for a very short period of time but before she could react to his absence, Thompson and Venables had led him away. They walked him for three miles and ultimately killed him on a rail track and then tried to make it look like he had been hit by a train.

They knew exactly what they were doing, ten years old or not. James Bulger is dead. Eight years in care and those two are now getting on with living their lives. How can that be right?

It's not right. I've no idea who made the decision to over-rule the Home Secretary's 15 year rule but they were completely wrong.

I just said to the wife if that ever happened to me I think I'd spend as many hours as it took trying to track them down so I could give them some back.

I hope they both suffer miserable lives wherever they are.

[Jonnyboy]

It's not right. I've no idea who made the decision to over-rule the Home Secretary's 15 year rule but they were completely wrong.

I just said to the wife if that ever happened to me I think I'd spend as many hours as it took trying to track them down so I could give them some back.

I hope they both suffer miserable lives wherever they are.

Agreed DH.

I think the original sentence of 8 years was raised to 15 by the Home Secretary after the family lobbied for it, only to be reduced again after appeal to the European Court of Human Rights.

For my money, anyone that commits such a crime forfeits their human rights

[Sir David Gray]

I only managed to watch about 2 minutes of the programme, that was enough for me as it just got me so worked up.

The fact that these two monsters were 10 years of age at the time is completely irrelevant in my book. Their actions were evil, twisted and above all else they knew exactly what they were doing when they took James, an innocent and defenceless wee boy.

The fact they served just 8 years for the murder is an absolute disgrace and it's even worse that they're now being protected by the authorities and have new identities etc so that they can both go about their business without fear of reprisal. They were both just 18 when they were released and will now be about 25 or 26. They could easily live for the next 50 or 60 years and can do everything they ever dreamed of and live a normal, happy life. What has James Bulger got to look forward to?

He would have been 18 now and would maybe have gone to university, got a job, got a girlfriend and looking to settle down. Instead, all that was cruelly taken away from him and all his family have to hold on to now is less than 3 years worth of memories and thoughts about what could have been achieved by James.

The justice system in this country is abominable and an utter joke and it's just summed up perfectly in this case.

[Sylar]

It's not right. I've no idea who made the decision to over-rule the Home Secretary's 15 year rule but they were completely wrong.

I just said to the wife if that ever happened to me I think I'd spend as many hours as it took trying to track them down so I could give them some back.

I hope they both suffer miserable lives wherever they are.

Was it not over-ruled in response to an application made by Myra Hindley for an early release, claiming she had been reformed and was no longer a danger to society?


When another life sentence prisoner challenged the Home Secretary's power to set minimum terms, Hindley and hundreds of other life sentence prisoners whose tariffs had been increased by politicians, looked likely to be released from prison.[15] Hindley's release seemed imminent and plans were made by her supporters for her to be given a new identity.[16] Frank Pakenham, 7th Earl of Longford, more commonly referred to as Lord Longford and a devout Roman Catholic, campaigned heavily to secure the release of "celebrated" criminals, in particular Myra Hindley, causing him constant derision by the public and in the press. He described Hindley as a "delightful" person and said "you could loathe what people did but should not loathe what they were because human personality was sacred even though human behaviour was very often appalling".[17]

On 15 November 2002, Myra Hindley died in hospital following a heart attack, at the age of 60.[4] Less than two weeks later, on 25 November 2002, the Law Lords agreed that judges, not politicians, should decide how long a criminal spends behind bars, and thus stripped the Home Secretary of the power to set minimum sentences

I still shudder when hearing about the Bulger killing - I was too young to remember it at the time, but remember studying the case at high school - even then, we only got the basic information. I was sickened to read about him having batteries stuffed in his mouth and being dismembered by the train, post mortem.

There have been so many rumours about the location of Venebles and Thompson since their release - apparantly, Denise (?) Bulger, James' mum, was informed of Thompson's location after his release - she tracked him down and saw him, but was too struck with anger and hatred to speak to him.

It's a shame nobody has so far recognised them and dealt out some vigilante justice.

[TheEastTerrace]

Watched this on STV tonight and found myself getting very upset at the notion of the two killers going free after serving only eight years in the care of the local authority. :grr:

Essentially these two thugs although only ten years old at the time, set out that day to take a child's life. A target had been identified but the parents were keeping the kid close by and so the attempt to lure the kid away was aborted. It was divulged that Thompson and Venables intended to push the kid in front of a bus or taxi just to see what reaction that would prompt to a 'tragic accident.'

James Bulger's Mum was in a butchers shop buying some goods when 2 year old James wandered out into the main floor of the shopping centre. He was out of her sight for a very short period of time but before she could react to his absence, Thompson and Venables had led him away. They walked him for three miles and ultimately killed him on a rail track and then tried to make it look like he had been hit by a train.

They knew exactly what they were doing, ten years old or not. James Bulger is dead. Eight years in care and those two are now getting on with living their lives. How can that be right?

I watched it last night and found myself shocked by the case, even 15 years on. I still can't get my head around the fact that these evil lads are protected by law and new identities. They should never have come anywhere near to freedom again after what they did, regardless of possible reform during their time in custody. It was premeditated evil act that shocked even the most hardy of crime investigators and the fact they walk the streets today is the most unbelievable decision that I can't and will never fathom.

What hit home for me is that, naturally his mother is extremely protective of her kids now, but she will never know exactly where these guys are and if they could do harm again.

[Just Jimmy]

Was it not over-ruled in response to an application made by Myra Hindley for an early release, claiming she had been reformed and was no longer a danger to society?



I still shudder when hearing about the Bulger killing - I was too young to remember it at the time, but remember studying the case at high school - even then, we only got the basic information. I was sickened to read about him having batteries stuffed in his mouth and being dismembered by the train, post mortem.

There have been so many rumours about the location of Venebles and Thompson since their release - apparantly, Denise (?) Bulger, James' mum, was informed of Thompson's location after his release - she tracked him down and saw him, but was too struck with anger and hatred to speak to him.

It's a shame nobody has so far recognised them and dealt out some vigilante justice.

Scott, it's a case that comes up over and over in lectures on my course. I've seen folk reduced to tears over it at uni. Male and female of all ages. The full concept of the case is horrendus, anything with kids is always worst tbh but this case has/had something more chilling that normal about it.

Perhaps since it was an attack of such violence and magnitude by other kids on this wee lad.

I try (due to what I study just now, and what I hope to do in the future) to have as much faith in the justice system in this country as I can, but sometimes its bloody hard.